Gas phase thermal unit

Abstract

A gas phase thermal unit, which includes an elongated vertically extending tubular housing having an interior cavity, a lower portion and an upper portion. A plurality of radial burner head conduits are positioned within the interior cavity in a lower portion of the housing, each of the conduits having a plurality of orifices, the orifices being oriented to create a vortex of gas movement. An ignition system is used to ignite gas emitted from the orifices to form high intensity flames. There is also a primary source of forced air having a radial air supply conduit associated with each burner head conduit, where each radial air supply conduit is adapted to create a vortex of air movement while delivering combustion air to a root of the flames of one of the burner head conduits, and a secondary source of forced air having associated air supply outlets adapted to create a vortex of air movement while delivering air to a tip of the flames to minimize oxide formation.

1 . A gas phase thermal unit, comprising: 
 an elongated vertically extending tubular housing having an interior cavity, a lower portion and an upper portion;    a plurality of radial burner head conduits positioned within the interior cavity in the lower portion of the housing, each of the conduits having a plurality of orifices, the orifices being oriented to create a vortex of gas movement;    an ignition system to ignite gas emitted from the orifices to form high intensity flames;    a primary source of forced air having a radial air supply conduit associated with each burner head conduit, each radial air supply conduit being adapted to create a vortex of air movement while delivering combustion air to a root of the flames of one of the burner head conduits; and    a secondary source of forced air having associated air supply outlets adapted to create a vortex of air movement while delivering air to a tip of the flames to minimize oxide formation.    
   
   
       2 . The gas phase thermal unit as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a sub-floor, insulated or non-insulated, to shield direct radiant heat energy from the burner to the controls/instruments and operators which can potentially cause damage to the equipment and injuries to the operators.  
   
   
       3 . The gas phase thermal unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing is insulated with thermal insulation.  
   
   
       4 . The gas phase thermal unit as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the insulation is ceramic fibre insulation.  
   
   
       5 . The gas phase thermal unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a top and a bottom, the bottom being mounted on a skid, the skid being of sufficient weight to support the housing in a free standing vertical orientation.  
   
   
       6 . The gas phase thermal unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the housing being of a length adapted to conceal any visible flame.  
   
   
       7 . The gas phase thermal unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a laydown skid is provided for purpose of transport, the laydown skid extending along the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The gas phase thermal unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a gas inlet extends from below up to a manifold which supplies gas to the radial burner head conduits.  
   
   
       9 . The gas phase thermal unit as defined in  claim 8 , wherein a liquid separation chamber underlies the manifold, the liquid separation chamber being adapted to contain liquids carried in the gas, the liquids separated by means of centripetal force into the base of the liquid separation chamber.  
   
   
       10 . The gas phrase thermal unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a low pressure vent line extends from the exterior of the thermal unit to the lower portion of the housing for venting low pressure gas collected from portable tanks regularly associated with drilling and well testing procedures.